Fostering Potential through Divine Imagination

Imagine if the world was God’s garden. What would you do to help tend it and help His plants to grow? Carolina Núñez gave a Disciple Scholar lecture addressing immigration and how we can use divine imagination and stewardship to help the people in God’s garden to grow into their potential.

Núñez and her family are from Venezuela and are familiar with what it is like to move to a new country. She eventually became a professor of law at BYU and co-founded the J. Reuben Clark Law School’s Refugee and Immigration Initiative, where students provide legal assistance to refugees in southern Texas. Through her experiences, Núñez said she has learned a great deal about working with refugees and immigrants. She suggested two lessons that students can learn:

Lesson 1: To truly love our neighbor, we must use divine imagination
Citing the poem inscribed on the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal, “The New Colossus,” Núñez explained that refugees are often seen as victims—America’s tired, poor, and “huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” She also said that they are sometimes viewed as burdens. However, neither of these views of immigrants use divine imagination, or see the potential in these people.

When Núñez was young, she had watched advertisements on TV that said we need to save the Amazon Rainforest. Among the plants and wildlife could be the cure for cancer, or AIDS, or other diseases. Just as the Amazon was seen for its potential, Núñez shared that we should see the potential in the people who immigrate from other countries. “In the same way that we have a stewardship over the Amazon,” Núñez said. “We also have a stewardship over the divine potential that we all have, and we have to use our divine imagination.”

Núñez referenced Chef Gusteau from Disney’s Ratatouille, saying “anyone can cook.” As Gusteau saw the potential in anyone to cook, we also can see the potential in anyone to make a difference and to grow in God’s garden. In fact, she said that “Your rescue may come from where you least expect it,” just as Jesus Christ was an unlikely person to be the Savior of the world. By seeing the potential in immigrants, we can use divine imagination to help them to do great things.

Lesson 2: God planted the garden, and we must tend it as stewards
Núñez shared her second lesson by telling the Bible’s parable of the talents. She emphasized that although God knew that one of the men would hide his talent, He gave him a chance anyway. “In generosity there is a much higher chance of reaching potential…giving a coin even when we aren’t sure that will be a wise investment on our part” Núñez said. If God was so generous in giving that man an opportunity to grow in His garden, we too can generously give others a chance at reaching their potential.

Sharing the story of Senator John Conness from California, Núñez reflected on how citizenship in the United States maximizes the potential for others to grow. Conness was originally an immigrant who went to California to find gold. As senator, he believed in full emancipation of slaves, and was also supportive of immigrants being naturalized. Núñez explained how this ability to become a citizen of the United States is a way for others to grow, which in turn allows the whole population to grow. “Gathering in everyone to belong,” she said, “that makes it more likely that there will be enough soil, air, water and sunlight for our population to flourish, to bloom, to give fruits in a way that is an extension of God’s plan.”

Professor Núñez clearly demonstrated how gospel insights and faith are intertwined with her scholarly work in immigration law. Her understanding of God’s love for all of his children informs her work, and her work has served to increase her appreciation of each individual’s potential. We were inspired by the messages she shared with the Honors community last week, and for her example as a true disciple-scholar.